Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem got back to winning ways by demolishing Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse 67-94 at Ekinox behind 31 points from Jared Harper in Round 17 of the BKT EuroCup

Jerusalem trashes Bourg, 67-94, to book playoff berth

Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem got back to winning ways by demolishing Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse 67-94 at Ekinox on Wednesday evening. The visitors hit the ground running, imposed their game on Bourg and led by double digits for the majority of the duel. Having improved its record to 10-7, Jerusalem clinched a playoff spot and will push for a top-two finish in the last round of the regular season next week. Bourg dropped to 9-8, but remained in playoff contention.

Jared Harper led all scorers with 31 points, with Khadeen Carrington and Justin Smith netting 15 and 14, respectively. Maksim Salash paced Bourg with 16 points and Brandon Jefferson bagged 10 in a losing effort.

Game Videos

Smith opened the scoring with a layup before 4 points from Harper and a triple by Jeremy Morgan gave Jerusalem a 2-9 lead. Harper added another 3 points to his tally and Tarik Phillip scored inside, stretching the margin to 4-16. Then, Khadeen Carrington took over with 4 points and a dish off the bench for a 9-24 cushion after 10 minutes.

Or Cornelius opened the second quarter with a long two-pointer before a triple from Harper gave the visitors a 20-point lead. Jean-Marc Pansa responded with a three-point play before a bucket by Salash and a Brandon Paul triple slashed the deficit to 18-29. Jefferson made 3 from the line to extend Bourg’s surge to 12-0, but Smith, Phillip and Gabriel Chachashvili scored inside to restore a 23-37 lead. A Hugo Benitez layup was followed by 8 points from Salash to bring Bourg within 33-41. Harper answered with a four-point play on the other end to make it 33-45 at halftime.

Game News

Buckets from Adrian Nelson and Joel Ayayi sandwiched a Carrington three before Smith and Kevin Kokila traded baskets in an exchange of blows that saw Jerusalem maintain a double-digit lead, 39-50. Jordan Usher opened his account from deep before going all the way to the rim to cut the difference to 46-55. Harper responded with one from downtown and Derek Ogbeide slammed it home. A Phillip triple allowed Jerusalem to pull away again, 47-63. Jefferson nailed a triple on the other end, but 4 points from Yovel Zoosman and 6 by Harper gave Jerusalem a 55-72 cushion heading into the closing quarter.

Smith netted back-to-back buckets, but Benitez responded with a three-point play. Yet, Carrington scored twice inside for a 58-80 lead midway through the fourth. Benitez tried to inspire a Bourg fightback, but Jerusalem would have none of it, running the clock down to seal the outcome.

An extraordinary Jared Harper finished the game with 31 points 

Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse v Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem (2025-01-29T18:30:00.000Z)

Buducnost VOLI took a big step towards clinching a playoff spot in the EuroCup as it improved its Group A record to 9-8 after an emphatic 107-75 home win over shorthanded Joventut Badalona, which was missing several key players.

Buducnost blows away Joventut, 107-75, edges closer to playoffs 

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica took a big step towards clinching a playoff spot in the BKT EuroCup as it improved its Group A record to 9-8 after an emphatic 107-75 home win over shorthanded Joventut Badalona, which was missing several key players.

The result means that Buducnost is assured of making the postseason if it beats Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius on the road in its final regular-season matchup, while a defeat may not turn out to be costly if other results go the Montenegrin team’s way.

Among half a dozen home players who posted double figures, livewire playmaker Yogi Ferrell stood out with a team-high 20 points and 5 assists, shooting 6 of 7 from three-point range. Teenager Djordje Jovanovic capped a perfect night with 13 points, having sank all his five shots from the floor. Big man Kenan Kamenjsas chipped in with 12 points and 8 boards, while Rasheed Sulaimon, Fletcher Magee and Nikola Tanaskovic added 10 points each.

At the other end, Sam Dekker paced Joventut on a game-high 26 points, Yannick Kraag scored 12 and Michael Ruzic netted 11 for the visitors, who had lost any hope of advancing into the business end of the competition with a defeat in the last round.

Buducnost raced into an early 17-9 lead before Joventut enjoyed its best spell of the game and briefly turned the tide with a 4-14 run which allowed the Spanish team to nose ahead at the end of the first quarter, 21-23. That, however, was as good as it got for the visiting team as Buducnost ramped up its defense in the second and led 46-38 at halftime, having been roared on by a fervent home crowd in the iconic Moraca gym.

The writing was on the wall for the visitors at the end of the third quarter as Buducnost fed off a barrage of offensive boards and steals as well as Joventut’s turnovers, forced by relentless hustle from the hosts which drew standing ovations from the crowd.

Buducnost headed into the fourth with a 74-55 lead and Ferrell put the icing on the cake with a late show, setting up Jovanovic for a brilliant slam dunk before he unloaded three successive shots from downtown, giving the hosts their biggest lead of the night, 96-60.

The performance, albeit against a depleted Joventut side, makes happy reading for Buducnost ahead of next week’s trip to Vilnius, where it faces a potential dogfight against Wolves for a playoff berth.

The Montenegrin side produced a monster second half to keep its postseason bid alive 

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica v Joventut Badalona (2025-01-29T18:00:00.000Z)

Turk Telekom erupted for 35 fourth-quarter points to flip the script and beat Reyer Venezia 84-81, a win which sealed the Turkish team's place in the EuroCup Playoffs.

Olivier Hanlan, Kyle Alexander fueled Turk Telekom’s fourth-quarter explosion against Reyer

The fans at Ankara Spor Salonu might have been feeling a bit jittery 30 minutes into [Turk Telekom Ankara](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/turk-telekom-ankara/ttk/)’s clash with [Umana Reyer Venice](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/umana-reyer-venice/vnc/) on Wednesday night.

Both teams came into Round 17 with an identical 9-7 record, and Reyer was one of the hottest teams in the BKT EuroCup after going 7-2 over its last nine, a run that started with a 75-67 triumph over Turk Telekom back in Round 8. Erdem Can’s squad, meanwhile, had gone 1-2 in their last three games and knew that it was time to step up on their home floor.

Well, things were not exactly going to plan for the hosts through the first three periods. Turk Telekom trailed 49-60 against Reyer entering the final period and the momentum was well and truly in Reyer’s sails, having held a double-digit lead for the majority of the third period.

[Ismet Akpinar](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/ismet-akpinar/004056/) brought a big roar from the Turk Telekom crowd with a three-pointer to start the fourth, yet [Davide Casarin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/davide-casarin/009400/) quickly responded for Reyer with a triple of his own to keep the visitors’ 11-point advantage intact. That didn’t affect the hosts, though, as they went on a 14-0 run capped by five straight points by [Olivier Hanlan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/olivier-hanlan/006598/) to take their first lead of the game at 66-63. The problem? There was still 6:28 minutes remaining.

Reyer expectedly responded, but Turk Telekom did enough to stay ahead. Clouds began to hover above the arena when former Turk Telekom guard [Tyler Ennis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/tyler-ennis/008858/) drained a three-pointer, his first field goal of the game, to give Reyer a 74-75 edge with 2:33 minutes to go, but [Braian Angola](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/braian-angola/010465/), Hanlan and [Anthony Brown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/anthony-brown/009025/) hit back to put the hosts 80-76 in front with 16 seconds left on the clock. The drama didn’t stop there.

Kyle Wiltjer’s reverse layup with 8.5 seconds remaining made it a one-possession game, so naturally Reyer decided to foul Turk Telekom’s second-worst free-throw shooter, [Kyle Alexander](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kyle-alexander/011973/). On Wednesday night, though, he was doing pretty well from the stripe after going 5 for 7. With 7.8 seconds left, Alexander kept his cool to convert both free throws, making it 82-78, but [Carl Wheatle](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/carl-wheatle/013305/)’s incredible three with 3.2 seconds to go pulled Reyer within one at 82-81. Alexander was purposefully fouled once again, but he put the win on ice by making another couple of free throws with 2.4 seconds remaining, before Ennis’s heave from inside his own court was off the mark.

The final buzzer sounded and there were scenes of jubilation inside Ankara Spor Salonu, with Turk Telekom having outscored Reyer 35-21 in the fourth quarter to come away with an 84-81 triumph. And later on Wednesday night, Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem’s 67-94 dominant win at Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse confirmed Turk Telekom’s place in the BKT EuroCup Playoffs.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The joy of victory💙🤍<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AnkaraBasketbolu?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AnkaraBasketbolu</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kaizen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kaizen</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreHereForAReason?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreHereForAReason</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoadToGreatness?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoadToGreatness</a> <a href="https://t.co/xENjMMREZ8">pic.twitter.com/xENjMMREZ8</a></p>&mdash; Türk Telekom Basketbol (@TT_Basketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/TT_Basketbol/status/1884684551374488017?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Just when Turk Telekom’s postseason future was hanging by a thread, it erupted for 35 points – the third time it has netted 35 points in a quarter this season, the second most all-time – to get a crucial victory, one that leaves Reyer needing to go down to the final day to find out if it will be playing playoff basketball in March.

In addition to Alexander’s four free throws in the final 7.8 seconds, Hanlan scored 11 of his 16 total points in the final frame to help fire Turk Telekom to its fourth straight home win. 

Coach Can’s men can now officially start prepping for the EuroCup Playoffs, knowing there won’t be any Round 18 drama against Jerusalem next week.

A combined 56 points were scored by both teams in the final frame

Turk Telekom Ankara v Umana Reyer Venice (2025-01-29T16:30:00.000Z)

Veolia Towers Hamburg captured its first road win since 2023 with an 88-90 overtime victory over Aris Midea Thessaloniki on Wednesday in Round 17 of the BKT EuroCup.

Hamburg holds off Aris, 88-90, after overtime thriller

Veolia Towers Hamburg captured its first road win since 2023 with an 88-90 overtime victory over Aris Midea Thessaloniki on Wednesday night. Hamburg, which enjoyed career-games from Brae Ivey and Kur Kuath, improved to 5-12 in Group B. The result also sentenced Aris, which was playing its first game with new head coach Nikos Vetoulas on the bench, to finish in last place after it fell to 3-14.

Ivey shined with 25 points on 6-of-10 three-point shooting – both career-highs – plus 5 assists and 5 steals. Kuath had personal bests of 19 points and 13 rebounds in addition to 2 blocks. Jaizec Lottie, who scored 5 of Hamburg's 6 points in overtime, finished with 13 and Johnathan Stove contributed 10 points before fouling out.

Sharife Cooper was Aris's leading scorer with 19 points and 6 assists, but he also committed 7 turnovers. Darral Willis added 12 points and 9 rebounds, Georgios Gkiouzelis also scored 12 and D'Moi Hodge added 11.

Kuath left his mark on the game early with three buckets in the first 4 minutes to help the visitors to a 6-11 start. Aris tied it soon after through Cooper and Kuath was forced out of the game after drawing a foul when his contact lens popped out. Willis continued his strong start for the hosts to give Aris a 13-12 edge. Teenager Fabian Giessmann, who came off the bench for Kuath, briefly helped Hamburg regain the lead, but free throws by Georgios Fillios left Aris with a 22-19 advantage after 10 minutes.

Fillios added a three-pointer and an assist as Aris protected a slim lead early in the second quarter. Hodge added a triple for a 32-24 cushion. A pair of threes by Ivey erased most of the Hamburg deficit, Stove tied the score from the line and Ivey connected again from deep to put the visitors ahead 37-40. With the Aris faithful singing in the stands, a 6-0 spurt pushed the hosts ahead only to see Rich Osaro’s three-pointer give Hamburg a 43-45 edge at halftime.

Ivey extended the lead with a three early in the second half and Kuath threw down a highlight-reel slam. Aris fought right back and tied it at 52-52 on L.J. Figueroa's put-back slam. Josh Roberts continued a strong run of play with a free throw to put Aris on top. Fillios kept Aris rolling with another triple, but Ivey answered with his fifth three of the night. The Hamburg guard finished the third quarter with a deep three that drew his team within 63-62.

Kuath sandwiched a pair of scored inside around a three by Gkiouzelis. A jumper by Jordan Barnett and a three by Stove had Hamburg back ahead, 66-71. After a timeout, Hodge drained a three, Willis tied it with a put-back and Cooper made it 73-71 with less than 4 minutes remaining. Figueroa rejected Lottie at the rim and Cooper added to the lead, but the momentum quickly shifted as Ivey and Stove teamed to put the visitors up 75-76. Setting up an exciting finish, Kuath put Hamburg ahead 78-80 with free throws with just over a minute to go. Cooper drained a three at the other end. Barnett gave Hamburg an 81-82 edge with 2 free throws with 16.2 seconds remaining. Cooper zipped through the visitors' defense for a layup with 7.8 seconds left and, but Kuath tipped in his own miss on the buzzer to force overtime at 84-84.

Cooper split free throws for the first points of the extra session before Lottie's layup gave Hamburg a slim advantage. Vassilis Toliopoulos countered with a jumper and Lottie tied it from the line, 87-87.  The pace picked up with Roberts shining with a pair of blocks. Lottie gave Hamburg a 1-point lead entering the final minute. However, Aris committed 3 turnovers and missed 3 shots in the last minute of overtime, costing itself a chance to tie or win it.  

Brae Ivey and Kur Kuath post career-highs to lead the visitors 

Aris Midea Thessaloniki v Veolia Towers Hamburg (2025-01-29T18:00:00.000Z)

7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys rallied from 12 points down in the fourth quarter to knock off U-BT Cluj-Napoca 92-91 at home and keep the guests from locking up a playoff spot. 

Lietkabelis shocks Cluj with 92-91 comeback win, keeps Cluj from advancing 

7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys rallied from 12 points down in the fourth quarter to knock off U-BT Cluj-Napoca 92-91 at home and keep the guests from locking up a playoff spot. Lietkabelis was down 71-83 with 5 minutes to play but fought all the way back, before Dovis Bickauskis hit the game winner with 2.2 seconds left. The Lithuanian side, which had already been eliminated from postseason contention, snapped a four-game losing streak to move to 5-12 in Group B. 

Bickauskis finished with 13 points, Oleksandr Kovliar led the way with 18 points, Djordje Gagic had 17 points, and Martynas Varnas collected 10 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists. Cluj would have secured a spot in the playoffs with a win but fell to 10-8 after having won three of its last four games. Zavier Simpson scored 24 points with 10 assists, Adam Mokoka had 15 points and De’Shawn Stephens chipped in 12 points and 9 rebounds in the bitter defeat. 

After Lietkabelis went up 4-2 early, Simpson scored five points in a 2-10 run to put Cluj 6-12 ahead. The hosts countered with a 16-3 run over more than 4 minutes to take a 22-15 lead. The guests scored the final five points of the first quarter and trailed 22-20. 

Neither team could pull away in the second quarter, with Cluj putting together a 2-9 spurt to make it 27-31. Lietkabelis hit back by scoring the next five points for the first of six straight lead changes, yet Cluj held a 36-40 advantage. Cluj added the final five points of the second half to make it 40-47 at the break. 

Lietkabelis scored the first five points of the second half to make it a one-possession ballgame, 45-47. DJ Seeley drained two three-pointers as Cluj punched back with 10 straight points in 89 seconds to surge 45-57 ahead. Lietkabelis scored consistently after that but could not put together defensive stops, with the hosts trailing 57-69. However, they answered with nine points in 42 seconds to make it 66-69, but trailed 66-72 after 30 minutes.

Lietkabelis was down 69-74 when Cluj seemed to put the game away with a 2-9 spurt to go 71-83 ahead with 5 minutes to play. The hosts were not done just yet, with a 7-1 burst making it 78-84. Gagic added a three-point play and tip-in, and Bickauskis tied it at 90-90 by knocking down a three-pointer with 40 seconds remaining. Seeley could only split two free throws with 20 seconds remaining, allowing Bickauskis to score the game-winning basket with a running floater with 2.2 seconds left.

Dovis Bickauskis hit the game-winner with 2.2 seconds left 

7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys v U-BT Cluj-Napoca (2025-01-29T17:00:00.000Z)

Hapoel Tel Aviv BC enjoyed a peaceful evening as it defeated the visiting Trefl Sopot 91-72 at Samokov Arena. 

Hapoel Tel Aviv dominates Trefl, 91-72

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv enjoyed a peaceful evening as it defeated the visiting Trefl Sopot 91-72 at Samokov Arena. The hosts struggled offensively in the early going but managed to score 30 points in the second quarter to build a double-digit advantage, 49-32, with the guests never threatening thereafter. Hapoel improved its record to 11-6 and is one game off from clinching second place in the group. 

The winners were led by Johnathan Motley, who registered a double-double of 22 points and 10 rebounds, good for a PIR of 27. Yam Madar followed with 13 points, Antonio Blakeney contributed 12, and Marcus Foster and Patrick Beverley added 11 apiece. Darious Moten and Geoffrey Groselle paced Trefl with 17 points each, while Nick Johnson finished with 16 in the losing effort.

The hosts struggled on offense in the early going, as they needed two and a half minutes to score a field goal after six attempts. Trefl took advantage of that to earn a 2-7 edge, but it didn’t last for long, as Motley took over with back-to-back baskets inside to push Hapoel ahead, 8-7. With neither team able to find their offensive momentum, the score only progressed thanks to free-throw shooting, and this allowed the home side to increase the margin to 13-9 after 7 minutes. Groselle stepped up to help the visitors with 6 points in a row, featuring a nice battle against Motley that brought Trefl within 17-15. A buzzer-beater by Blakeney closed the first half with a 19-15 advantage for the home side.

Hapoel fastened the pace after the break, using Foster on offense and exploiting offensive rebounding to go up 27-19 after 12 minutes. Trefl stopped the game, but a three-pointer by Blakeney right after the game resumed sparked a 7-2 run that built a double-digit lead for the hosts, 34-21, forcing a second timeout in less than 4 minutes in the period. It didn’t work either, as 7 straight points by Foster created a 41-23 gap for the hosts. Alleyne tried to give Trefl a spark with 5 points, but the closest the visitors could get was within 11 points. Then, another 8-2 run led by Blakeney restored a safe margin for Hapoel, which finished the first half 49-32 ahead.

Trefl found some energy at halftime and took to the court with a stronger outlook, led by Groselle inside and Moten outside, as it reduced the distance to 51-38. Moten took the reins for the visitors later, drilling back-to-back three-pointers and adding and a pair of inside buckets that revitalized Trefl's offense. The visitors couldn’t match that accuracy in their defensive response, however, and Hapoel took advantage of that to feed Motley inside to avoid further problems, 66-52, with 8 points in a row coming from him. Back-to-back triples by Beverley and Guy Palatin made it a 20-point game soon after, 72-52, while Moten kept rocking and closed the third period with another bomb to make it 72-55.

A technical foul called on Jakub Schenk opened the last quarter, but Moten stayed red-hot and provided a free throw and a three on two consecutive possessions to keep Trefl breathing at 73-59. Johnson made it even closer, 73-61, right before getting another technical that enabled Hapoel to regain a comfortable cushion, 76-61. With Madar and Beverley pulling the strings, the hosts kept their opponents at a safe distance, 83-67, with 4 minutes remaining. Trefl looked for answers by returning Groselle onto the court, but his fourth foul and Schenk’s fifth made the guests forget their chances of a rally. Madar and Bruno Caboclo, from the free-throw line, set an 89-69 margin entering the last minute that confirmed the win.

A strong second period, which saw the hosts outscore the visitors 30-17, set the foundations for the win

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv v Trefl Sopot (2025-01-29T17:00:00.000Z)

In a thrilling contest in the Turkish capital, Turk Telekom Ankara outscored Umana Reyer Venice 35-21 in the fourth quarter to come away with an 84-81 win that leaves Erdem Can’s men within touching distance of the EuroCup Playoffs. 

Turk Telekom downs Reyer in a stunner, 84-81

In a thrilling contest in the Turkish capital, Turk Telekom Ankara outscored Umana Reyer Venice 35-21 in the fourth quarter to come away with an 84-81 win that leaves Erdem Can’s men within touching distance of the EuroCup Playoffs. Both teams entered Round 17 with a 9-7 record in Group B, but Turk Telekom’s win and Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem's triumph at Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse ensured that the Turkish side is officially in the BKT EuroCup Playoffs.

Braian Angola led Turk Telekom in scoring with 17 points, but Olivier Hanlan scored 11 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter, and Kyle Alexander downed four crucial free throws inside the final eight seconds en route to 13 points. Anthony Brown also chipped in with 13 points. Reyer’s Mfiondu Kabengele had a 20-point, 18-rebound double-double, but in vain. Tyler Ennis added 12 points, Davide Casarin scored 11, and Carl Wheatle finished with 10, including a crazy three with 3.2 seconds left that gave Reyer a bit of hope, only for Alexander to knock down two free throws with 2.4 seconds left to ice the game.

Kabengele was causing all sorts of problems for Turk Telekom from the jump, scoring 7 points as Reyer raced out to a 3-11 lead. That advantage extended to 3-14 when Wheatle drained a three-pointer, capping a 10-0 run for the visitors. Hanlan combined with Angola to give Turk Telekom some life, as they scored 4 and 6 points respectively the rest of the way to make it 13-18 after 10 minutes.

If Kabengele was the man of the first quarter, it looked like Casarin was going to be the star of the second. He scored a runner and dished two beautiful assists before drawing an offensive foul inside the first 2:15 minutes as Reyer opened a double-digit lead at 15-25. Turk Telekom kept punching back, with Speedy Smith erupting for 7 points to get the hosts within five points, 29-34, but Ennis, Wheatle and Kyle Wiltjer helped fix a 31-41 score at the break.

After scores by Wheatle and Kabengele in the early part of the third period, Ennis’s three free throws gave Reyer its largest lead of the game at 36-48. Plenty of free throws followed, but Turk Telekom could never reduce it to single figures. Brown eventually did with a layup at 43-51, then the two teams kept responding to one another before Yoan Makoundou’s layup set a 49-60 score after 30 minutes.

Everything changed in the fourth period. Ismet Akpinar and Angola drained threes either side of a Casarin triple to start the fourth, then Turk Telekom started rolling. The hosts went 17-3 to start the final frame, with Hanlan’s three-pointer at the end of that run giving Turk Telekom its first lead at 66-63. The lead changed hands several times over the following minutes, with the game tied at 76-76 entering the final 60 seconds. Hanlan and Brown scored from mid range to put Turk Telekom 80-76 ahead with 16 seconds to go, then Wiltjer’s reverse layup gave Reyer life at 80-78 with 8.5 seconds remaining. Alexander then made a couple of free throws and Wheatle hit a crazy three-pointer, but Alexander returned to the line with 2.4 seconds left to ice the game and give Turk Telekom an 84-81 win.

Check out what the protagonists are saying ahead of Round 17 of the BKT EuroCup, and who might be missing in action.

Round 17: Pregame quotes and injury reports

## Wednesday, January 29

### Turk Telekom Ankara vs. Umana Reyer Venice (17:30 CET)

**Neven Spahija, Umana Reyer Venice head coach**

"A very tough game between two important teams fighting for their last chances to qualify for the playoffs. We’re playing away, but we’ve already shown that we can play good basketball far from home. We have great respect for Ankara, but we’ll try to win. To do so, we’ll need to bring our defense, which has been a strong point since the start of the season, and never lose our composure during the game."

**Xavier Munford, Umana Reyer Venice forward**

"It’s a must-win game because we’re back against the wall; a victory for us would be crucial to trying to secure a spot in the playoffs. We’ll need a game with great mentality. We’re a team made up of experienced athletes who have already played this kind of game; basketball players live for these moments. We need to step onto the court motivated because we have hard work to get done. The desire for redemption after the game against Trento should give us an extra push."

Reyer injury news: **Davide Moretti is out.**

### Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv vs. Trefl Sopot (18:00 CET)

**Dimitris Itoudis, Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv head coach**

"We are playing against a team that has drastically changed its roster since the game in the first round. The way they’ve competed in recent games does not reflect their current position in our group. They are very aggressive on defense and have an excellent flow to their game. \[Nick\] Johnson adds a new dimension to their play, alongside \[Geoffrey\] Groselle, who didn’t play in the first game, as well as their versatile forwards and guards. Overall, we’re facing a very athletic team that clearly knows what they want on the court. We expect a very tough game, and for us, it’s important to compete with intensity, play aggressively, and establish our identity on the court. Controlling the boards will also be key, as rebounding is a critical factor in this matchup."

**Antonio Blakeney, Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv guard**

"This is a big game for us. We have been playing well, and Sopot has been competing hard in every game, so we have to be ready to compete and battle for the win."

**Nahiem Alleyne, Trefl Sopot guard**

"We already know this is a tough matchup, a tough team. They've got a lot of veteran guys. We've just got to stick to our principles: defensively get back, stop the transition game; offensively just move the ball around. Obviously we've got to hit shots, but if the ball's not going in, just keep attacking them and getting to the line."

### 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys vs. U-BT Cluj-Napoca (18:00 CET)

**Mihai Silvasan, U-BT Cluj-Napoca head coach**

"This is a very important game. The qualification has not been played. We still need to win some games and we want to win both of them. We are taking it one game at a time and we are focused on this one. We will not play against a weak team and it is hard to win on their court. They share the ball well and have dangerous players. Our team needs to have the right mindset to win this game."

**Gediminas Orelik, U-BT Cluj-Napoca forward**

"It is going to be a tough game, I have been in this team for almost three seasons. It is going to be hard, they always play well at home. It is going to be fun to see them again, even though I have played against them before. It will be fun, because I will play for the first time against them in their gym. I know they have nothing to lose, but they are always fighting for victory and for their fans. For us, it is one of the biggest games of the season. It will be really important for the standings."

### Aris Midea Thessaloniki vs. Veolia Towers Hamburg (19:00 CET)

\--

### Buducnost VOLI Podgorica vs. Joventut Badalona (19:00 CET)

**Dani Miret, Joventut Badalona head coach**

"We didn't achieve our objective, it's clear that it's a hard blow for the team. We have prepared and fought until the end, trying to stay alive, but we could not. We have two games left and we must try to be productive, try to remain competitive and manage to improve as a group."

### Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse vs. Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem (19:30 CET)

**Frederic Fauthoux, Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse head coach**

"It’s a team that is very physical and very athletic, which can play a very direct game. We will have to expect a very high pace, and stop the strong players facing us. It will be up to us to be lucid about that."

**Adrian Nelson, Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse player**

"We are prepared for the game mentally, and know what’s at stake and the fight for top six in the EuroCup standings. We know that they have a very talented roster so we must rely on our defense and take care of business at home."

### Dreamland Gran Canaria vs. Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul (21:00 CET)

\--

## Tuesday, January 28

### Bahcesehir College Istanbul vs. ratiopharm Ulm (17:00 CET)

**Ty Harrelson, ratiopharm Ulm head coach**

"We're playing against the leader of our high-caliber group. We're thinking game by game and not prioritizing based on opponent or importance. I want my team to value every possession and fight for the full 40 minutes – that's the only way we can take an important step forward together."

### Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana vs. Valencia Basket (18:30 CET)

**Zvezdan Mitrovic, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana head coach**

"We only have one day to prepare for Valencia. There’s no big pressure on us; we can prove ourselves, but it will be very tough. Valencia has demonstrated this season, both in the EuroCup and the Spanish League, that they are a EuroLeague-level team. They play fast, aggressive basketball, with excellent three-point shooting and offensive rebounding. We need to focus on ourselves and be ready for a tough, physical game."

**Jaka Blazic, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana guard**

"A win against Valencia would mean a lot. They’re possibly the strongest team in the EuroCup, showing the best performances this season. Our task will be to slow them down and establish our rhythm. If we can do that, we might surprise them."

**Chris Jones, Valencia Basket guard**

"A tough game, but it's our next game on the schedule, so it's important for us. Without looking at the standings, it's the next thing we have to do, so we have to go out and compete and continue what we did in our previous game and keep getting better and better. I think it will be a different game than the first leg; they are fighting for a better position and we are fighting to keep improving as a team. We have our own goals, but that ''next game mentality', just go out, fight hard and accept the results that that brings us. Coach tells us all the time, just think about the next game. It doesn't matter who we're playing, just go out there and do what we do as a team to live with the results and hopefully get the win."

### Dolomiti Energia Trento vs. Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius (20:00 CET)

**Alessandro Magro, Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius head coach**

"It's a very important game for us against a team that is performing well in the Italian League. In the last two BKT EuroCup games, they \[overwhelmed\] their opponent. This team is really aggressive running the floor, having a high pace, and everybody is involved. We have to be ready to match up their physicality and their quickness."

**Tre'Shawn Thurman, Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius forward**

"It's a must win for us. I expect everyone on the team to use every ounce of energy they have in them whether it's defense or offense. Just turn on their teammates and everyone to try to be on the same accord. We must have a mentality like never before."

Dreamland Gran Canaria v Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul (2025-01-29T20:00:00.000Z)

Dolomiti Energia Trento v Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius (2025-01-28T19:00:00.000Z)

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana v Valencia Basket (2025-01-28T17:30:00.000Z)

Bahcesehir College Istanbul v ratiopharm Ulm (2025-01-28T16:00:00.000Z)

After an unfortunate start to the season, Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius finds itself right where it wants to be: on the doorstep of the BKT EuroCup Playoffs with its destiny in its own hands after defeating Trento in Round 17

Wolves boosted playoffs chances with win at Trento 

Three months after an unfortunate start to the season, [Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/wolves-vilnius/roster/wol/?season=2024-25) finds itself right where it wanted to be: on the doorstep of the BKT EuroCup Playoffs with its destiny in its own hands.

Wolves boosted its chances of reaching the postseason after coasting to [a 70-96 victory](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/wolves-take-step-toward-playoffs-with-70-96-win-at-trento/) over [Dolomiti Energia Trento](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/dolomiti-energia-trento/roster/trn/?season=2024-25) to secure back-to-back wins exactly when it needed them most.

“This is probably one of our better defensive games all season. Right now we’re showing up when we need some wins,” said [Andrew Andrews](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/andrew-andrews/011248/), who poured in a team-high 19 points, including making 12 of 14 free throws.

“It was a great team performance. Unfortunately it’s just a win. We have to immediately think about the next one and that will be really tough at home against Buducnost,” added Wolves head coach Alessandro Magro, whose team allowed 70 or fewer points for the third time this season.

Wolves now has a 9-8 record and currently occupies sixth place in Group A - though [Buducnost](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/buducnost-voli-podgorica/roster/bud/?season=2024-25) can pull back ahead of the Lithuanian side after its [Round 17](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2024-25/buducnost-voli-podgorica-joventut-badalona/U2024/163/) game at home against already-eliminated [Joventut Badalona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/joventut-badalona/roster/jov/?season=2024-25).

Then everything will be set up for the big showdown in the final round as Wolves will host Buducnost on Wednesday, February 5 at Twinsbet Arena in Vilnius. Buducnost won the first matchup between the teams, [104-77 in Round 9](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/buducnost-sends-a-message-with-blowout-win-against-wolves-104-77/) in the Montenegro capital.

“We will need the same level of energy, desire and effort for the final crucial game against Buducnost,” Magro said after the win over Trento.

Magro wishes he and his team could have already locked up their playoff berth, especially after the club failed to reach the postseason in its debut season in 2023-24 by just one victory. Wolves ended Group A play last year with [an 8-10 record](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/standings/?season=2023-24&type=Traditional&phase=REGULAR%20SEASON) - one win behind [Besiktas Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/besiktas-istanbul/roster/bes/?season=2024-25).

At the same time, Magro has to be happy his team is on the brink of making history, especially after its poor start to the season.

Wolves dropped its first three games of the season, putting itself behind the eight ball very early in the season and not grabbing its first win until October 16 at Joventut Badalona. Now, three months later, Wolves have had highs and lows since then.

The three-game losing streak was followed by five straight wins for a 5-3 record before Magro saw his team drop five of the next seven to sit outside the playoff ranks at 7-8.

Wolves last week infused new life into its playoff hopes with [a surprising 88-76 win](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/wolves-upset-gran-canaria-88-76-in-important-victory-in-playoff-race/) at home over [Dreamland Gran Canaria](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/dreamland-gran-canaria/roster/can/?season=2024-25). And now, all the cards are on the table and all Wolves needs is to beat Buducnost.

And that is all Wolves wanted after the poor start to the season.

The Lithuanian team’s slow start can be forgotten for good with a win to close the regular season 